AMERICAN SPIES
written by Sam Hamashima
directed by Gregory Keng Strasser
musical guest Lauryn Alexandria
FEATURING
George.................................................................Sam Hamashima
Natsuko.....................................................................Marina Kondo
Maneki Neko / Miss Nakayama.........................Grace Hamashima
Paper Crane..............................................................................Ako
Diane / The Impersonator / The Officer................Jo Ellen Pellman
Tamihei/Buzzards/Stage Directions................................Roger Yeh
Sam Hamashima | is a contemporary playwright based out of New York City. Described as “serious whimsy” in the Washington Post, Hamashima creates theater with an emphasis on spectacle, surprise, and design. Full-length plays include: American Spies (Washington, D.C., The Hub Theatre, Helen Hayes Recommended, Winner of the 2018 Kennedy Center Undergraduate Playwriting Award and the University of Michigan Hopwood Award in Drama, Dennis McIntyre Prize, and The Roy Cowden Fellowship), Supposed Home (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Seattle Public Theater), Shoyu Tell (Lexington Children’s Theatre), Sellout (San Francisco Playhouse). Hamashima’s work has been presented or developed by the Kennedy Center, Stanford University, National Queer Theater, Lyric Stage Boston, and the Workshop Theater. They are the 2nd recipient of Seattle Public Theater’s $10,000 Emerald Prize. University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre Program. www.samhamashima.com
Gregory Keng Strasser | directs and writes theatre, games, film, and opera projects. Next up is the DC-premiere of Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea by Julia Izumi. He loves boba tea, hosting dinner parties, fitness videos, and sliding into DMs, which you can do @lil.scallion.pancake on IG. Visit www.gregorykengstrasser.com to stalk.
Lauryn Alexandria | is an actor and anime/video game singer based in NY. Known online as Toastymarshmellow, she has built a following of nerds from around the world with a love for anime music! Past songs: Crash and Power by Rdcworld1 Anime House 5, Waifu Crush remix and more to be announced.
Marina Kondo | s a bicultural (USA/Japan) singer, actor, dancer, and lyric translator. Broadway: KPOP (OBC). National Tours: Disney’s Frozen (OTC), Lincoln Center’s The King & I. Off-Broadway: Road Show (NYCC), KPOP (Ars Nova). Regional: The Muny. TV: Succession (HBO). University of Michigan (BFA). @marinakondo https://www.marinakondo.com
Grace Hamashima | is a New York City based performer. Recent credits include: Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Musical (Off-Broadway Premiere) Cat in the Stephen Schwartz original Magic To Do (Princess Cruises) Sonya in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Theatre Raleigh) Featured Performer in the National Tour/West End run of Blippi the Musical (RRL/Moonbug Entertainment.) Grace is honored to be part of sharing wonderful works/stories through The Parsnip Ship. www.gracehamashima.com
Ako | is the founding artistic director of English-Japanese bi-lingual theater AMATERASU ZA www.amaterasuza.org. Ako is a former member of the Takarazuka Theatre in Japan. Her works include God Said This (Lucille Lortel Leading Actress Award nomination),. Films/Tv: Snow Falling On Cedars, BBC- Prisoners In Time, I Origin, Twelve, 30 Rock, Mercy. Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Throne Of Blood, Julius Caesar, White Snake. Ako will appear as Daiyoin in the upcoming FX series Shogun. www.ako-actress.com
Jo Ellen Pellman | is an actor and writer based in Brooklyn. Recent credits include The Prom on Netflix and 1923 on Paramount+. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan, and she's a proud Cincinnati, OH native.
Roger Yeh | (pronounced "YAY!") is a Chinese-American actor, cupcaker (@YehCakes), and avid rodent lover. Alls Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure with The Public Theater, The Chinese Lady with Kitchen Theatre/Geva Theatre, 410[Gone] with the Yangtze Rep Theatre, Midsummer Night's Dream with Gorilla Rep, Macbeth and Richard II with the York Shakespeare Co. BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Professional Artists Agency. IG: @YehitsRoger www.YehitsRoger.com
American Spies is the first episode recording of Season Six of The Parsnip Ship. Season Six features an exciting offering of one-night only live podcast recordings of new plays by a dynamic lineup of queer playwrights. In addition to featuring new plays on the platform, The Parsnip Ship features interviews with the playwrights as well as live music from independent musicians, culminating in a uniquely curated theatrical event.
The Parsnip Ship is a play development company that amplifies bold stories and storytellers. Our theatrical experiences are eclectic, intentional and personal. The Parsnip Ship serves writers and the artistic community by producing and promoting transformative, accessible work created by marginalized voices. Our podcast episodes are recorded in front of a live audience every month at the Mark O'Donnell Theater in Brooklyn and produced with Business Lunch Productions. The Parsnip Ship is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Broadway Podcast Network, and Stitcher.
THE PARSNIP SHIP CREW
Artistic Director + Host Iyvon E. (she/her)
Managing Director Katy Donnelly (she/her)
Associate Artistic Director Al Parker (they/them)
Digital Operations Director Todd Kirkland (he/him)
Technical Manager & Special Projects Jesse Manning (he/him)
Development & Marketing Coordinator Olivia DiPasquale (she/her)
Sound Engineer/Editor Luke DiCola (he/him)
The Parsnip Ship is co-produced by Business Lunch Productions.
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